to go back and correct the pharmacist?

[bolshieoldcow]

Oh, I probably am BU - but anyway. Yesterday DD1 had mild conjunctivitis in one eye. The NHS website says it usually heals itself and that antibiotics aren't useful. I phoned my sister, a doctor, who also said just keep it clean and it'll be fine. Then I went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist INSISTED on giving us antibiotics. He was so fucking patronising too - when I told him what the NHS advice was online he said "Well, that's why you come here and you can have a consultation with a Pharmacist".

I took the antibiotics but when I came home started reading up on the latest research - turns out there are loads of studies showing that antibiotics are really not useful at all and have associated problems like reduced immunity and some other stuff.

So... would I be totally out of order to print out the Cochrane Report on a/b use and hand it in to the Pharmacy? I'm just concerned that he's confidently giving out wrong information and prescribing unnecessary, potentially harmful medication and also want to wipe the smug grin off his smarmy face

Personally, I only trust vets

BTW her eye is lovely and clean this morning - looks like hand washing and rinsing the eye with saline did the trick

Oh your talking about antibiotic drops/cream?

You just said ABs assumed u meant oral.

From
What I can gather they do regular training so if he's acting from advice given the last time he did training then he did t do anything wrong. These things change all the time, web sites aren't always updated and gps sometimes know nothing about certain things so do whatever research you see fit. Listen to medical advice you are given and do what you feel is best. You don't have to do anything they can advise but not force.

I think it's an old fashioned view that Ab drops are always needed. I have a handful of optometrist relatives and they all now recommend saline. Teaspoon if salt in a litre of cooled boiled water. I think if he insisted he will be right in his head even if you give him studies.

Ops sister is a gp hence osmosis comment

He gave you correct advice.

You didn't have to buy them.

By all means go and rant at him.

Who do you think will look unhinged and patronising then?

OP is it bacterial or viral conjunctivitis?

YANBU OP.

You know how you are told you can ask for advice from your pharmacist for minor conditions, avoiding the need to see your GP? Well I have tried this 2 or 3 times and every time the pharmacist has been bloody useless. Or maybe its just the ones employed by Boots, and it would be better with an independent pharmacy.

Honestly, I might as well have been talking to any shop assistant, although I had asked to speak to the pharmacist. Can't believe they have degrees in the subject.

The website you used can't see the infected eye. Your sister didn't see your childs eye?
But a pharmacist did look at the eye and said it looked infected?
I would tend to go with the diagnosis of the person who has actually looked at the problem.
If you think that he is wrong, don't use the drops, but maybe get a second opinion by letting your sister actually look at your childs eye.
It is very hard to diagnose infection on description alone.

"My sister is a doctor and I looked on the internet" I wouldn't be surprised if he laughs in your face.

I think you are out of order for not taking your daughter to the ophthalmologist but instead self diagnosing something as important as the eyes off a website. I've had conjuctivitis, which was not treated on time and turned ugly pretty quickly. It took 3 months and strong steroids to get rid of it. So, I think the antibiotics are the least of your worries here. I think it is better to give the drops rather that leave it untreated, if you still insist on self diagnosis or diagnosis from A doctor without tests. Alternatively, go the ophthalmologist right away!